Patrick Kearney’s love for the Swan Hill Carnival reached new levels on Friday when Cripps provided the young Ballarat trainer with his first success in one of the popular weekend’s major events.
The four-year-old son of Magnus, who is named after dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, landed the biggest payday of his career in the Golden Topaz (1200m).
Kearney’s post-race tears had nothing to do with the financial reward of the win, suggesting it was a miracle Cripps even made it to the races.
“I have had the worst week of my life with this horse, I think I’ve put my heart and soul into this,” Kearney said.
“He couldn’t walk on Monday. The whole team at home has just done an absolute fantastic job; my farrier Shane is amazing and my vet Matt is incredible.
“I’ve been up all night nearly every night this week with this horse just trying to get him right.”
Whatever recuperative work Kearney undertook worked with Cripps ($3.90) getting home by a neck from Fancify ($10). Steel Move ($6) rounded out the placegetters, 1-1/4 lengths away third.
In-form jockey Jett Stanley was aboard for the win and while the pair landed a great spot just behind the leading division, Stanley said he had to use him early to find that position and was impressed with the fight he showed late.
“He did have to do a little bit of work early, they went a hard tempo and everyone was coming from last to catch us,” Stanley said.
“He was the last man standing and he out-toughed them, that’s for sure.”
The Golden Topaz win was Kearney’s second highlight success at the Swan Hill Carnival, following Drought Breaker success with Phair Plan two years ago.
It also completed a winning double for Stanley, who won the first event on the card aboard local Foxiet, who started $81.
Harry Coffey was the other jockey to ride a winning double and narrowly missed out on a treble when beaten a long head aboard Fontein Jewel in the Elvstroem Classic (1300m), which was won by the Henry Dwyer-trained Mountjoy.
